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Peng B, Jiao Y, Zhang Y, Li S, Chen S, Xu S, Gao P, Fan Y, Yu W. Bulbospinal nociceptive ON and OFF cells related neural circuits and transmitters. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1159753. [PMID: 37153792 PMCID: PMC10157642 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1159753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is a bulbospinal nuclei in the descending pain modulation system, and directly affects spinal nociceptive transmission through pronociceptive ON cells and antinociceptive OFF cells in this area. The functional status of ON and OFF neurons play a pivotal role in pain chronification. As distinct pain modulative information converges in the RVM and affects ON and OFF cell excitability, neural circuits and transmitters correlated to RVM need to be defined for an in-depth understanding of central-mediated pain sensitivity. In this review, neural circuits including the role of the periaqueductal gray, locus coeruleus, parabrachial complex, hypothalamus, amygdala input to the RVM, and RVM output to the spinal dorsal horn are discussed. Meanwhile, the role of neurotransmitters is concluded, including serotonin, opioids, amino acids, cannabinoids, TRPV1, substance P and cholecystokinin, and their dynamic impact on both ON and OFF cell activities in modulating pain transmission. Via clarifying potential specific receptors of ON and OFF cells, more targeted therapies can be raised to generate pain relief for patients who suffer from chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingxue Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingfu Jiao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunchun Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Shian Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Sihan Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Saihong Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Po Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinghui Fan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yinghui Fan, ; Weifeng Yu,
| | - Weifeng Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yinghui Fan, ; Weifeng Yu,
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Hryciw G, De Preter CC, Wong J, Heinricher MM. Physiological properties of pain-modulating neurons in rostral ventromedial medulla in female rats, and responses to opioid administration. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN 2021; 10:100075. [PMID: 34660937 PMCID: PMC8503581 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2021.100075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Physiological properties of RVM pain-modulating neurons were described in female rats. ON- and OFF-cells in females have fundamental properties comparable to those in males. As in males, RVM neuron output is altered in persistent inflammation and by morphine. This work provides a foundation for future studies of RVM in females.
Functional pain disorders disproportionately impact females, but most pain research in animals has been conducted in males. While there are anatomical and pharmacological sexual dimorphisms in brainstem pain-modulation circuits, the physiology of pain-modulating neurons that comprise a major functional output, the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), has not been explored in female animals. The goal of this study was to identify and characterize the activity of RVM cells in female, compared to male, rats. ON- and OFF-cells were identified within the RVM in females, with firing properties comparable to those described in males. In addition, both ON- and OFF-cells exhibited a sensitized response to somatic stimuli in females subjected to persistent inflammation, and both ON- and OFF-cells responded to systemically administered morphine at a dose sufficient to produce behavioral antinociception. These data demonstrate that the ON-/OFF-cell framework originally defined in males is also present in females, and that as in males, these neurons are recruited in females in persistent inflammation and by systemically administered morphine. Importantly, this work establishes a foundation for the use of female animals in studies of RVM and descending control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwen Hryciw
- School of Dentistry, Portland, OR, USA
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Portland, OR, USA
- Neurological Surgery, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Caitlynn C. De Preter
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland, OR, USA
- Neurological Surgery, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jennifer Wong
- Neurological Surgery, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Mary M. Heinricher
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland, OR, USA
- Neurological Surgery, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Corresponding author at: Department of Neurological Surgery, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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Okamoto K, Tashiro A, Hirata H, Bereiter DA. Differential modulation of TMJ neurons in superficial laminae of trigeminal subnucleus caudalis/upper cervical cord junction region of male and cycling female rats by morphine. Pain 2005; 114:203-11. [PMID: 15733646 DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2004.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2004] [Revised: 12/06/2004] [Accepted: 12/13/2004] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in the cellular responses to morphine were examined in an animal model of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. TMJ-responsive neurons were recorded in the superficial laminae at the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis/upper cervical cord (Vc/C(2)) junction region, the initial site of synaptic integration for TMJ afferents, in male and cycling female rats under barbiturate anesthesia. Unit activity was evoked by local injection of bradykinin into the TMJ capsule at 30 min intervals and the effects of morphine sulfate (0.03-3 mg/kg, i.v.) were assessed by a cumulative dose regimen. Morphine caused a dose-related inhibition of bradykinin-evoked unit activity in males and diestrous females in a naloxone-reversible manner, while evoked unit activity in proestrous females was not reduced. The apparent sex hormone-related aspect of morphine analgesia was selective for evoked unit activity, since the spontaneous activity of TMJ units was reduced similarly in all groups, while the convergent cutaneous receptive field area of TMJ units did not change in any group. These results were consistent with the hypothesis that sex hormone status interacts with pain control systems to modify neural activity at the level of the Vc/C(2) junction region relevant for TMD pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Okamoto
- Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI 02903, USA
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